Aegis AAW Correlator/Tracker (AACT) Experiment
Conrad J. Grant · Naval Engineers Journal · 1990
ABSTRACT The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, in continuing development of the Aegis Command and Control capabilities aboard USS Ticonderoga class cruisers and USS Arleigh Burke class destroyers, under the direction of the Aegis Shipbuilding Project (PMS‐400), is in the process of developing the Aegis AAW Correlator/Tracker (AACT) to experiment with and evaluate the capability to correlate track and contact data from over‐the‐horizon (OTH) sources and sensors with the shipboard real‐time tactical picture. AACT, which is based on multi‐hypothesis correlation algorithms, is intended to be fully automated; requiring little or no operator interaction in spite of ambiguous or conflicting data. Unlike other OTH correlator/tracker designs, the experimental AACT capability is highly integrated with the combat system. It makes maximum use of the shipboard sensor data, such as that provided by the AN/SPY‐1 radar, to provide the basis from which to correlate the OTH data in areas of mutual sensor coverage. This approach helps to resolve the traditional conflicts between the tactical picture derived from battle group sensors and that derived from OTH sensors, and provides command the track data in the formats, rates, and timeliness needed to fight the AAW battle. This paper describes the AACT concept, design, and implementation. It addresses the plans for installation of AACT aboard an Aegis cruiser for evaluation of this capability in an operational environment.